SSScout

*sigh*.   Thee is not alone, friend.   Many COs are backing away from the BSA because of the past problems. The BSA has essentially run out of rugs to sweep things under.  What is missed is that the old problems  should not affect the future. The slate , if not the reputation , is being wiped clean (I hope) .   

The House of Worship that chartered my old Troop and Pack for better than 60 years (a methodist church)  was told by the Circuit that the UMC would no longer sponsor Scout units. Deadline 31 December.  Not withstanding the "new" understanding, (March 31?), whatever that may be,  the Scouts had to go find a new CO, which they did.  The local VFD picked them up, bless them.  The move was amicable, the church did not demand immediate vacating of the closets etc.  The pastor was (is) very Scout friendly and was apologetic for what  was required of her higher ups.  Up to recently, the methodist church saw  Scouting to be a very worthy program for young men (and now women), and was only caught up in the ongoing scandals.

The church was vary cooperative, saw the Scout units, not so much as a Church Youth Program (very few kids were from church families), but worthy of support none the less.  The unrealized possible liability (read the fine print in the Charter Agreement)  and BSA's past lack of transparency and responsibility led to the UMC not wanting to continue, the Men's Commission statement and desire not withstanding. 

And so we continue.  See you on the trail. 

And again....

Last page this time....

The following are scanned from Matching Mountains With The Boy Scout Uniform  by  Edward F. Reimer, 1929, E.P. Dutton, publisher

 I've been meaning to try this.... 

On 2/3/2022 at 9:42 AM, Double Eagle said:

I seem to remember using the neckerchief for SM minutes with the 3 edges as 3 parts of the scout oath and 12 rolls for the scout law.  Also, as the last uniform item put on, the scout oath and law are the last part of the uniform.  This is a really reduced SM minute and roll tight as 12 is a lot with smaller neckers.

Another discussion.... ""3 parts of the scout oath ""

I came to see there are FOUR parts/sections/ promises....    Duty to GOD,   duty to COUNTRY,  duty to OTHERS and duty to SELF ( last !)   To accomplish these, the Scout Law is applied. (five parts?) 

""The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up.""

Committees, in their support and policy role, are a VERY flexible title, role, responsibility.  In small Units, anyone who can meet to discuss and decide things is "on th committee"..  It is not unusual at all for s Den Leader (bless you) to also be another responsible person. Treasurer?  Committee chair?   COR (horrors !) ?  Event chair?  Blue and Gold Chairperson?  Committee "member"?    I know Packs (and Troops and VCrews) that welcome (eagerly !) any parent who would come and Talk Scout on the Committee Meeting evening to makle decisins, help the CM plan meetings, and arrange visits to ships, fire houses, museums and parks.  

Den Leader? Yes, get that Vregistration made and get'em the knot....

2 hours ago, mrjohns2 said:

As an ASM?

Well, if the SM delegates/assigns it to the ASM.... 

It has been done...

"Golden Rule"

"Messenger of Peace" project.

"Good Turn " every day.

"If not me, then who, Lord?"

https://www.teachingvalues.com/goldenrule.html

Shovel a neighbor's snow? 

And transfer this thread to the Faith and Chaplaincy  sub thread....

"Take offs are optional, LANDINGS are mandatory".

3/5 of SCOUT is OUT. That said,  I would hope that :

1) The campouts are PLANNED by the Scouts thru their Patrol Leaders' Council , with appropriate adult mentoring and help (appropriat !)

2) all activities, camping foremost, is done within BSA guidelines. Read the Scout Handbook....(""OK, show me where, in your BSHB, it recommends Ramen Noodles for all meals?"")

3)  Parents are always welcome to OBSERVE and HELP and COME on activities (sign that volunteer app,  pay the dues, take the training, STAND BACK.....)

4)  Suitable understanding is shown for Scouts that   do OTHER THINGS.    >>>  I Scouted, earned my Eagle waaaay back when.  My Troop had the motto "ALWAYS ON THE GO"  emblazoned on our neckerchiefs and elsewhere.  My Eagle Patrol or Troop was somewhere, doing something, many times a month. 

Along the  way, I acted in school plays, played and marched in the band,  held school government office,  went to MYF things,   dated,  changed the oil in my dad's trucks, won prizes in debate , went fishing with friends and relations,  sold sodas in snack bar, was Stage Crew Chief (lots of gear to take care of) and generally grew up.  

Your Scout should never feel limited.   Scouting is OPPORTUNITIES,  not just REQUIREMENTS.  

See you on the trail. 

Morse code.   Get a ham radio (do they call'em that in the UK?) into for her to connect with folks around the world. Jamboree On The Air doesn't happen for awhile, officially, but hey, QSL  card collecting is a neat thing.... 

bump

OH ! My favorite story...  when Scoutson earned his AOL and crossed into his Troop, we said we would celebrate by buying him a present. Any one thing he wanted...

He chose a 5 D cell Maglight.   It went on ONE campout.  Then, he realized why dad only took little AA pocket lights....

I think he still has it,  but it rides in his truck. 

Then we have the Scout who told me that the umbrella was insisted upon by his mom....   We were in a drought....

Yep. It happens. The Cub that wanted to build a bird feeder is now driving his own Freightliner.  

Give him opportunities, not instructions.  

Oh, "it " very definitely "depends".

I remember one summer camp I attended  (back when gas cost less than a buck a gallon,  ), the Scout Counselor for Astronomy thought my question about having a night time session was "silly" because it was not  part of the requirements...." even when one  read  "identify in the sky....".   As a high school soph , I knew more about the night sky than he did.  I remember he was very impressed with my diagram of the moon's phases.... 

He did sign my card (which was not blue back then). 

Welcome to our virtual campfire, SR70..  Sit ye down on an elog and enjoy the fellowship.

The answer to your concern, as in much of Scouting, is:  "It Depends".  The Cubs want ( and appreciate ! ) safe adventure, fun stuff, learn something new, get some bling. The Cubs that are blessed with parent(s) that are involved with them (not just "putting in time") will be the ones who we will want to pick out our Assisted Living Facilities.  The others? I will refer you to  Harry Chapin's  ""Cats In The Cradle""...

B&G is meant to be a ""Happy Birthday BSA"" party.   It can be most any time of year, but usually in February.   Pot Luck in the church social hall?   Fully catered sit down dinner at a hotel?  Picnic BBQ in the park?   I've seen many wonderful festive types.  Table/room decorations?  Magician?  Balloonman?  State Parks Scales and Tales?   Den skits?  Lots of types of entertainment. Up to you, or at least the organizer.  Cost?   Again, "It Depends"....   One year, our B&G Chair (he and his wife corralled everyone.... school cafeteria, crepe paper, table take home decor, really nice job, Steve and Katie)  , contacted Outback Steak House, they did a really nice  semi catered dinner (salad, steaks, potato, dessert....) which we picked up.  When our treasurer asked for the bill, the restaurant manager said "no charge !"  and everyone went home with a meal or two extra left overs !  

Awards?   Webelos Crossover?   Folks include that, but again, "It Depends". A large Pack might have too many awards to make it work.  I favor doing the Web/AOL Crossover a separate special event.  Maybe some SHORT  special awards at your B&G, but make it predominantly a fun time, not an ""official""  time....

Sit down with whatever passes for your Pack Committee (not just the CChair) and talk about it.  Busy Parents?   We are not here for the parents. We are here for the kids.  What are the parents here for?  All BSA can do is offer OPPORTUNITIES.  

Good Scouting to you.   See you on the trail....

Welcome to the forums, Irratgoat....  First things first.  A Scout is....   Obedient.

That said, here's my list of stuff important.

BSA still gender separates on paper at least.  Female Troop and Patrol(s), Male Troop and Patrol(s). That means gender specific PLs and SPLs. There is no mention of gender specific SM (!) but you need gender specific adult attendance...   That said, there is no reason the Scouts can't meet and activate together.  The SPLs (!S!)  should/must cooperate in their planning and (did I hear that word somewhere? ) delegation of duty and such.  Only a one Patrol Troop? Guess what? That PL is the Troop SPL ! 

A Patrol can be any number of Scouts,  eight is considered traditionally ideal.  I have known Troops that said if only ONE Scout from the Patrol comes on a Campout, that Scout plans and acts as a Patrol, including cooking and cleanup !   Melding Scouts into "Troop Patrol"  can have results that destroy the Patrol idea, deal carefully there. 

I agree with much of the above suggestions and experience cited.   ABOVE ALL....  remember 3/5 of "SCOUT"   is "OUT".    

See you on the trail. 

One must take the stand where the responsibility sits.

Many moon ago, I organized and led canoe trips for American Youth Hostels.  Our local club would put an ad in the local outdoorsy publication and young adults would come, pay the rental fee, get some instruction, and happily paddle down a stretch of the Monacacy (also known as the Monotony) river. The requirements were prominently displayed in the ad ::: Swimming ability, no alcohol, expectation of getting wet, etc.  Once,  a pair of young males arrived with a large cooler. When I asked to see the contents, they smilingly opened it to reveal three six packs, on ice. I distinctly remember three,. "Oh, we wanted to be sociable".  When I announced they had a choice, either leave the whole cooler behind, or go home, they cursed and chose to go home.... 

One canoe stayed strapped to the shuttle car.

Head scratcher::::    Are there any "Dirty Jobs"  in Scouting Mike might be interested in?   Not just latrine digging.....    

My faith in the worth of tv has been renewed.  Mike Rowe is back with "DIRTY JOBS ".

Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe Returns for a New Season on Discovery and discovery+ | Dirty Jobs | Discovery  

WHO has my IMPORTANT PAPERS ? ? ?

When I lived in my "Wellbilt"  cabin (a package house, built in the 1930's ) , it had a neat "heatorlator " fireplace and I used wood. This is the best tool I ever bought, A "Monster Maul"  . You can still find similar, but not the same,  today:  

I remember it was delivered only the head wrapped in newspaper and the delivery label stuck to the wrapped head . Parcel Post !  The mailman dropped it (!) on my porch !  12 pounds of steel ! Optional rubber grip!    Man, did it split bolts.... 

The three words no Scoutmaster wants to hear:  " HEY ! Watch this ! !"

Here is my favorite:   click past the ads.... 

There's an old  saw that says before you would judge a man, one should walk a mile in their shoes  . Same thing here. The DEI training is meant, however successfully (or not?) , to get us old fogies (and future fogies) to realize the Comptons and Tuksa and Trail of Tears and Rosa Parks and Red Lining and such that we (WE) need to study and realize and acknowledge and accept ....  The history that was not taught , not shown.  Even the  problems that led to BSA's present troubles.  However inelegantly, however unneatly. 

I went thru Diversity training at my work before I retired. Part of my unconscious response was "of course", "I haven't needed to acknowledge this, but what about the rest? Oh, wait a minute. I am a part of that REST".   The various b'ack, late immigrant (Viet Namese and Cambodian, and Laotion, aong others) that I met, trained , worked and became friends with... The Guatamalan workers my son works with (learned to curse in Meso Americano Hispania)...   It needs accommodation and adjustment and personal smiles....

Absolutely Welcome.  Yep, Scout Led is cyclical, counsel, encourage,,,,

One of my favorite stories:   Once I sat in on a PLC,  these Scouts were mostly fairly new, the Troop was "rebuilding" as you mention. The SM (not me) was making suggestions, pointing out maps of trails to hike, noting that Troop Meetings could be for training, Patrol competitions, that sort of thing. Finally, the nascent SPL  WOKE UP. He said, "You mean I can make that decision??? " SM (a good man) responded "DUHHH" and the Troop had a good new year.....

Pittsburgh?  I hope you are considering the GAP and C&O Tow Path , all the way to Washington, DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY (mostly).  Nice to plan and do as a summer adventure (all the way?  Come home by train?) or chew off a piece at a time....  Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org)